Mercury Lounge Rocks Live Nation With Poaching Suit

September 14, 2011 – In The News

Law 360

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S.W. Monte Inc. and Bowery Presents LLC, the owners of New York's Mercury Lounge, filed a lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and the club's former booking agent Jay Belin with unfair competition and contract claims, claiming Live Nation poached the agent.

Lounge owners say Belin is under contract with the club for another year but Belin quit saying he was going to work with Live Nation.

"Even though Live Nation has been provided with a copy of the exclusive employment agreement, they have essentially dared us to try and protect our rights in court," said Daniel Schnapp, Mercury's attorney. "This is a classic case of poaching."

Mercury said it entered into the exclusive employment agreement with Belin specifically because Live Nation had tried to poach another previous employee. The club is now seeking enforcement of this contract as well as compensatory and punitive damages.